Non-spillable cup lid

ABSTRACT

The disposable lid for a coffee cup or the like has penetrable score lines around the sides of a 90° sectorial portion thereof for easily breaking off this portion to form a drinking access opening therethrough while the remaining portion of the lid serves to reduce the danger of spilling the contents of the cup when held in an unsteady cup support environment. Another penetrable score line extending near the periphery of the lid, between the sides of this sector, and a fold score line between the ends of this peripheral score line provide for a segmental flap to be broken open and bent on the fold score line to form an access opening to the contents of the cup while providing a substantial shield against spilling the contents of the cup through the opening.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 672,920, filed Apr. 1,1976, now abandoned, which is a reissue of application Ser. No. 165,611,filed July 23, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,995. .Iaddend.

The prior art that was found to be closest to the present inventioncomprises U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,606,586, 2,689,664, 2,974,815 and 3,504,817.None of these, however, discloses the segmental flap opening at the edgeof the lid, subtending an angle of approximately 90°, so as to provideample space for the upper lip of a user to enter said opening withoutfully closing it off, and so that the flap when open inwardly provides abaffle to reduce the danger of spilling the contents through saidopening. Neither does any of these references show a right angularsectorial opening in the lid broken open inside the rim of the lid, soas to keep the entire rim intact while breaking open either thesectorial portion or just the segmental flap portion.

Accordingly, the main object of this invention is to provide adisposable cover or lid for coffee cups and the like in which aconvenient opening may be readily broken out of the lid for unrestricteddrinking therefrom while the rest of the lid forms a restrictive shieldagainst the danger of spilling when the cup is held in or on an unsteadysupport.

A further object is to provide a combination of penetratable and foldscore lines in the lid for selective use in accordance with the type ofaccess opening desired by the user.

A further object is to provide a lid with a segmental flap openingadjacent the rim of the cup.

A further object is to provide a sectorial break-off portion in the lidto form a convenient drinking opening therein without removing the lidfrom the cup.

A further object is to form the sectorial break-off portion inside therim of the cup so as to keep the edge of the lid intact on said rim whenthe sectorial portion is broken out.

A further object is to extend the penetrating score lines across eachother at the center of the lid to form a penetratable opening for adrinking straw.

Other and more specific objects will appear in the following detaileddescription of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup with a lid made in accordance withthe present invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cup with a lid as in FIG. 1 but havinga sectorial portion removed to provide a convenient drinking opening,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lid shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same lid with the segmental flap portionbroken through and bent inwardly to provide a convenient drinkingopening, and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the same lid with the flap and the rest of thesectorial portion of the lid inside the rim of the cup removed toprovide a convenient drinking opening without weakening the mounting ofthe entire rim portion of the lid on the cup.

In his travels on the Metro-Liner between Washington and New York aswell as on other high speed transportation means on water and in theair, the inventor has observed many accidents, some quite serious, whichcould have been avoided by the use of the present invention, or at leastminimized to a great extent.

Many accidents of this type have also been noticed in privatetransportation means, especially in connection with carry out foodservices which are becoming more and more popular.

Hot coffee and other drinks are now often served in moving vehicles inmany environments where the cup is necessarily held in or on an unsteadysupport, human or otherwise.

In large crowds even on steady ground, it is almost impossible to avoidgetting bumped in the arm holding your drink, and the danger of spillinghot or cold drinks is ever present, and many serious accidents can beavoided by using the non-spillable lids of the present invention.

Besides providing safety against spilling, this invention providesagainst the danger of dirt or insects entering the cup or other vesselusing the present lid, because access to the contents of the vessel orcontainer may be had through a selected reduced opening in the lid whilekeeping the major portion of the top of the vessel covered. Many foodcontainers may thus be protected against dirt and insects at picnics oron camping trips, etc.

In homes such lids may be used as a training device for children intheir early years of motion coordination and drinking.

The present structure of the lids does not limit the manufacturersthereof in the use of impressions of any kind of advertizing or markingof corporate names, etc.

The present type of improved lid could even be made integral with thecontainer which it covers. The combinations of score marks that may beused will give the consumer different options that may be suitable forhim under different environments, e.g., a consumer with large physicallips will want to select a larger opening.

Referring now to the drawing, the cup 10 is provided with a lid 12having penetrable score lines 14 extending from the center of the lid atright angles to each other to the edge of the lid inside the rim of thecup, at which points they are joined by a straight fold score line 16.These points are also joined together by an arcuate penetrable scoreline 18 inside the rim of the cup, as may be seen in FIG. 3.

The lid 12 has a groove-formed edge 20 fitting closely over the rim ofthe cup. The penetrable score lines 14 may be extended slightly acrosseach other at the center of the cup, to form a penetrable opening for adrinking straw.

Fold score lines 24 across the triangular flap portions having theirapexes at the center of the lid, and defined by the extensions of thepenetrable score lines 14 crossing each other at the center.

The penetrable score lines 14 may be extended across the groove-formededge of the lid 12 at 26 to provide an option of breaking off the entiresectorial portion of the lid, when desired, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, only the segmental flap portion may be broken awayat the penetrable score line 18 and bent at the fold score line 16 bypushing it inwardly, to form the segmental drinking opening. Or, ifdesired, the entire sectorial portion of the lid inside the rim of thecup may be broken out easily by lifting it at the fold line 16 or at thecorner between the score lines 14, leaving the sectorial opening , asshown in FIG. 5, without breaking through the groove-formed edge of thelid and weakening its mounting on the rim of the cup.

The operatively easy manipulation of the options in the selection of asuitable opening in the lid of the present invention lends itself towardaiding of the handicapped, epileptics, and other prone situations. Therelatively simple construction should appeal to manufacturers, since itrequires a minimum of retooling and a minimal increase in costs.

Consumer acceptance should be widespread, nationally as well asinternationally.

Many obvious modifications in the form and arrangement of parts of thisinvention may be made without departing fom the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lid for a coffee cup or the like, comprisingadisc having a groove-formed edge portion extending around its peripheryand fitting over the rim of the cup, a fold score line forming the baseof a segment of said disc within said edge portion subtending an angleof substantially 90° at the center of the disc, and a penetrating scoreline extending adjacent said peripheral edge portion, between the endsof said fold score line within said subtended angle.
 2. A lid as definedin claim 1, anda pair of penetrating score lines extending from the endsof said fold score line substantially at right angles to each other andmeeting substantially at the center of the disc.
 3. A lid as defined inclaim 2,said right angular score lines extending across said peripheralgroove-formed edge of the disc.
 4. A lid as defined in claim 3,saidright angular score lines crossing over each other to form a penetrableaccess opening for a drinking straw.
 5. A lid for a coffee cup or thelike, having a groove-formed edge around its periphery fitting over therim of said cup, anda pair of penetrating score lines in said discextending at right angles to each other from the center thereof acrosssaid perpheral groove-formed edge, said score lines extending slightlypast each other at the center of the disc to provide for the making ofan access opening for a drinking straw.
 6. A lid for a coffee cup or thelike, comprisinga thin disc of substantially impervious material havinga groove-formed outer edge fitting closely over the rim of said cup, apair of penetrating scored lines in said disc inside of saidgroove-formed outer edge and extending from its center at asubstantially 90° angle to each other, and an arcuate scored lineadjacent said groove-formed outer edge, between the outer ends of saidpair of scored lines, so as to make it easy to break a 90° sector pieceout of said lid to provide a sector shaped opening in the lid, throughwhich one may drink from said cup, while retaining a major shieldingportion of said lid on said cup to minimize accidental spilling of anycontents from said cup if it is held in an unsteady support environment.7. A lid as defined in claim 6,said penetrating score lines extendingslightly past said center to provide an opening for a drinking straw atthe center when penetrated by pushing the straw therethrough.
 8. A lidfor a coffee cup or the like, comprisinga thin disc of substantiallyimpervious material having a groove-formed outer edge fitting closelyover the rim of said cup, a pair of penetrating scored lines in saiddisc extending from its center at substantially 90° angle to each otherand an arcuate penetrating score line adjacent said groove-formed outeredge between and intersecting said scored lines so as to make it easy tobreak a 90° piece out of said lid to provide a sector shaped opening inthe lid through which one may drink from said cup, while retaining amajor shielding portion of said lid on said cup to minimize accidentalspilling of any contents in said cup if it is held in an unsteadysupport environment, said penetrating score lines extending slightlypast said center to provide an opening for a drinking straw at thecenter when penetrated by pushing the straw therethrough, said dischaving another score line extending between said pair of score linesalong and close to the edge of said disc, said sectorial portion betweensaid right angular score lines and said edge score line being adapted tobe easily broken out from the lid at said score lines without breakingits rim portion.
 9. A lid for a coffee cup or the like, comprisinga thindisc of substantially impervious material having a groove-formed outeredge fitting over the rim of said cup, a pair of penetrating scoredlines in said disc extending from its center at substantially 90° angleto each other and an arcuate penetrating score line adjacent saidgroove-formed outer edge between and intersecting said scored lines soas to make it easy to break a 90° piece out of said lid to provide asector shaped opening in the lid through which one may drink from saidcup, while retaining a major shielding portion of said lid on said cupto minimize accidental spilling of any contents in said cup if it isheld in an unsteady support environment, said penetrating score linesextending slightly past said center to provide an opening for a drinkingstraw at the center when penetrated by pushing the straw therethrough,said disc having a fold score line extending between the ends of saidedge score line, so that a segmental flap may be broken off at said edgescore line and folded down at said fold score line to provide a drinkingopening without removing or weakening the lid mounting on the rim of thecup.
 10. A container having a top of thin impervious material,a pair ofpenetrable score lines in said top extending from its center at asubstantially 90° angle to each other, to its outer edge, saidpenetrable score lines crossing each other at the center of the top toprovide an opening for a drinking straw when it is pushed therethrough.11. A container as defined in claim 10,said top having anotherpenetrable score line extending between said pair of score lines alongand close to the edge of the top, said sectorial portion between saidright angular score lines and said edge score line being adapted to beeasily broken out from the top of said container at said score lines.12. A container as defined in claim 11,said top having a fold score lineextending between the ends of said edge score line, so that a segmentalflap portion may be broken off at said edge score line and bent down atsaid fold score line to provide a drinking opening. .Iadd.
 13. A lid fora cup or the like comprising a thin disc, said disc having a peripheralflange formed on its edge around its periphery for frictional engagementwith the rim of said cup to form a seal therewith for liquid containedin said cup, an arcuate penetrating score line in said disc havingterminal ends bounded by lines extending at an angle to each other fromsubstantially the center of said lid, said arcuate score line extendingadjacent said peripheral flange edge, and a fold line formed of a chordof a circle subtending an arc between said terminal ends such that anopening bounded by the arcuate penetrating score line and said chord ofa circle form an opening having a segmental flap, which opening issufficient to permit fluid in said cup to flow substantially unimpededto the mouth of the user and said segmental flap substantially preventsinadvertent spillage of the contents when said cup is nearly full with aliquid. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 14. The invention defined in claim 13 whereinthere are a pair of penetrating score lines along said lines extendingat an angle to each other, the fold line of said segmental flapintersects said score lines at said flange portion of said lid..Iaddend..Iadd.
 15. A container having a top of thin impervious plasticmaterial, said top having a rim for frictional engagement with the sidewalls of said container, a pair of penetrable straight score lines insaid top extending from said rim at a selected angle to each other sothat the arc subtended thereby forms ample space for the upper lip ofthe user, an arcuate penetrable score line adjacent said rim extendingbetween said pair of lines, a straight fold line intersecting said pairof penetrating score lines and said pair of penetrating score linesbeing extended at their interior ends to cross each other proximate thecenter of the top to provide an opening for a drinking straw when it ispushed therethrough. .Iaddend.